Assessing resource allocation for efficient and effective community policing in the Daveyton Township, South Africa.

Abstract

Chapter 7 of the South African Police Services Act 68 of 1995, deals with Community Police Forums (CPFs) and Boards with a provision in Section 19(1) for CPFs to be established at police stations that should be broadly rep resentative of the community. An essential element of the successful imple mentation of any programme is communication and establishing understand ing between various parties in the partnership. The purpose of this article is to assess resource allocation for efficient and effective community policing in the Daveyton Township, South Africa. The four key resources, namely: period of service in the CPF, employment status, orientation and training, and transportation means of the members of the CPF are addressed. A mixed method approach was followed during CPF meetings in the form of question naires and observation of their operations. Feedback from the questionnaire and meetings is highlighted in the closing section and recommendations are made on how to improve the relations and adequately provide resources to the CPFs. The South African Police Service (SAPS) needs to be more consid erate of the challenges faced by the CPFs concerning resources and try to put measures in place to assist them in executing their duties.